Tourism Month is in full swing, with the South African National Park (SANParks) once again opening its doors for free for South African National Parks Week from Monday, 18 September until Friday, 22 September.
The in...

15,16 and 17 September
Bigger, better, more competitive and more fun than ever before!
Sponsored by Harbour Bay, supported by Intasure, this 3 day festival of sailing is False Bay Yacht Club’s premier re...

Water crisis in Cape Town!
As the province moves into the spring and summer seasons with little prospects for rain, the City of Cape Town has announced tougher water restrictions by raising the water consumption alert ...

An annual Mother City highlight, the Cape Town Marathon heads into the CBD for a quick-paced run through iconic streets and past historic buildings on Sunday, 17 September 2017. This yearly marathon is best known for its flat...

September is almost here and the first month of Spring does not disappoint with all the amazing events lined up for everyone to enjoy! There is something for everyone to do, young and old.
Have a look and mark your favorite ...

THIS YEAR’S CAPE HOMEMAKERS EXPO IS A TRIBUTE TO YOUR HOME – ON AT THE CTICC FROM 31 AUGUST TO 3 SEPTEMBER
The 2017 Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo will celebrate this year’s theme A Tribute to Your Home with an impressive ...

One of South Africa’s oldest towns and Naval base, Simon’s Town (sometimes misspelt as Simons Town) is a picturesque and historical town where many happy memories are waiting to be made just 35km outside Cape Town. ...

Nothing prepares you for your first whale and the impact that seeing it has upon you. Perhaps it is their immensity. Definitely it is the whales' authenticity and the absolute trust they show towards us. But m...

Cape Town was recently voted the second cheapest city to live in the world, although locals may beg to differ. Luckily we've put together a guide to how you can navigate the Mother City in a truly wallet-friendly way.
Our ...

Nothing soothes the soul quite a good as a wonderful cup of coffee. You can search high and low for the perfect cup and once you have tasted the aroma, magic happens.
Here are some of the local coffee shops in and around...

The Cape has so many amazing hiking trails that it can be difficult to pick one! We have done the research for you so that you have all the relevant information at your fingertips and can go ahead and choose the one most suit...

Every year it’s the same old story: how do you keep the children busy during the school holidays? For parents, this doesn’t have to be especially daunting this lovely summer in Cape Town. Don’t sweat it, there is plenty...

Cape Town winters are known to be wet and grey. What locals like to keep quiet is the fact that in between the miserable days are beautiful, blue-skied, crisp ones. That's why it's called 'The Secret Season'. Fewer tourists...

Marniner Guest House has been awarded the 2017 ‘Certificate of Excellence’ from TripAdvisor. Thank you to all of those who reviewed us - we are super proud!
This achievement celebrates businesses who have consistently ac...

Cape Point is one of the country’s most popular tourist sites, but many people who visit here are unaware of the secrets and fascinating facts that have helped to make this unique rocky promontory what it is today.
Here ...

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula have two glittering coastlines with a beach to suit every mood and moment. Whether you're after buzzing beachside bars, secluded coves, safe swimming beaches or a romantic spot...

Silvermine Nature Reserve
It's a cool misty morning when we visit the reserve and the clouds roll in over Silvermine as rapidly as the tablecloth covers the Mother City’s iconic landmark.
The reserve is popular during...

Sea Kayaking is one of the very exciting activities to enjoy when staying with us in Simon's Town.
We recommend contacting Kayak Cape Town at 082 501 8930 / www.kayakcapetown.co.za for your sea kayak trip!
Here are so...

South Africans have been inundated with tips on how to save water, followed by warnings of what will happen should we not comply.
Now, it’s caution of a different kind headed our way, as experts warn Capetonians should b...

This historical gem on the False Bay coastline packs a lot in for such a quaint little village. Simon’s Town is a quiet harbour with a naval base, a rich history, charming shops, restaurants for every taste and more activit...

Celebrate your love of cuisine and vino at the Good Food and Wine Show.
Pick any weekend of the year in Cape Town and you’re bound to find a host of events planned throughout our hip and happening city. We have rounded up...

South African Naval Museum, Simon’s Town
If you like tales of naval battles and heroism on the high seas, rooting around all manner of naval memorabilia, and are curious about what the inside of a submarine looks like,...

Cape Town is beautiful in winter, and did you know that the Mother City offers a range of activities that are best experienced between May to August each year? Yup!
We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 reasons to visit ...

As you all know the Western Cape is facing extreme water restrictions and need to save as much water as we can. This is something that affects each and everyone of us, but we also believe that we should not only be water sa...

5 Reasons to Look Forward to Autumn in Cape Town
Autumn in Cape Town is pretty much here, and while there are many who wish that we could eke out just a little bit more summer, this time of year is quite special indeed.
...

Something different for mother's day
Mother's Day is the one day that you can go above and beyond to spoil the most dearest lady in your life, just to show how much you appreciate everything she so unselfishly does for...

Local is always better
Local is always better, so come and get some Previously loved, Retro, Handstitched and Querky goods. Have some freshly brood coffee and donuts or cheeses and fresh breads. Come and have some fun with...

Be adventurous and enjoy fishing in the open sea
Big Blue Sport Fishing Charters, an owner operated business in the Cape Peninsula, offers its clients the ultimate experience in Big Game, Inshore Game and Bay fishing. We o...

Are you an adrenaline junkie?
Great white sharks are the apex predators of our oceans and Cape Town is one of the shark cage diving capitals of the world. Sharks are iconic and magnificent creatures. Experience a great white...

Located on the eastern side of the picturesque Cape Peninsula is Simon's Town. At the centre of the town is a thoroughfare of where one can bask in the town’s great atmosphere. Once used as a naval base, the town has now be...

#Pickoftheweek: World Travel Market Africa (19 -21 April)
The annual World Travel Market Africa is back in the Mother City this weekend for a travel experience that none can rival. Discover new places, travel trends, unique ...

We had our first quarterly STBA Accommodation meeting for the year earlier this week. Subjects discussed included Responsible Tourism, Social Responsibility, Staff, Insurance and Grading. All very relevant topics and of inter...

#Pickoftheweek: KKNK (8 - 15 April 2017)
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees is returning to Oudtshoorn yet again in 2017 and we cannot wait to join the fun at this multi-platform arts festival. The organisers have made sur...

Greenmarket Square will come alive to the sounds of the very best Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) artists at 17h00 on Wednesday 29th March 2017. The annual Free Community Concert, set in the heart of Cap...

The Western Cape’s largest travel, outdoor and adventure event, The Cape Getaway Show, returns to Lourensford Wine Estate from
31 March to 2 April 2017.
Unlock your travel dreams at the Cape Getaway Show
...

Every year on 17 March, Ireland celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day, a cultural and religious holiday that dates back to the 9th century and pays homage to the nation’s most prominent patron saint. While it does have spiritual...

The annual festival hosts a range of kid- and family-friendly activities and gives fans of maritime history and seafaring combat the chance to experience a real naval base first-hand.
The festival gets into t...

We are proud to be one of the official sponsors of
A WHALE OF A HERITAGE ROUTE.
From our veranda at Mariner Guesthouse we can see whales visiting False Bay, many of them coming quite close to shore! After 7 years of e...

#Pickoftheweek: Century City Sports Festival (2 - 5 March)
From Thursday, 2 to Sunday, 5 March 2017, Central Park at Century City will be overtaken by athletes of all disciplines. You can choose between a 10-km run, a 2.5-km...

Table Mountain 1870
Orange Street, Cape Town 1870
Sea Point 1890
De Waal Park 1898
The beach that used to be in Woodstock. Photo taken in 1899
Navel base in Simon's Town 1900
"Welgemeend" is one of the oldes...

The most uplifting way to explore the breathtaking beauty of the Mother City
Nothing affirms Henry Ward Beecher’s famed phrase that “the view is much better at the top” more literally than a whirl in a helicopter. Yiel...

Seal Snorkelling:
Get nose to nose with playful Cape Fur seals within the Karbonkelberg marine reserve, part of Table Mountain National Park.
This is a magical thing to do with Animal Ocean whilst visiting Cape Town.
...

This world-class circus is here for a limited time only!
One of the best circuses in the world will touch down in South Africa for a grand tour to some of our major cities – namely Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein a...

VALENTINE’S DAY 2017 IN CAPE TOWN AND SURROUNDS:
Valentine's Day Dinner with Benguela On Main Somerset West
One of the classiest joints in the Somerset West area invites couples to come and experience an opulent food fil...

Lola’s
This Long Street daytime institution transforms into a lady of the night during the summer months and, in honour, the graceful dame runs an all-night happy hour special and serves up tasty street-style food and ...

The Cape Peninsula was in flames after a small fire which started near Kommetjie Road in Ocean View quickly spread towards Simon's Town. Conditions were favorable for wild fire and challenged firefighters throughout the day. ...

#Pickoftheweek: Open Streets City Centre
After its success in Langa and Bellville, Open Streets is back this Sunday, 15 January 2017 for its city centre edition. Open Streets is a community initiative aimed at imagining a ca...

Get ready to tap into a new year and a new you!
The New Year comes with new possibilities and its famous resolutions – and who doesn’t love a good old new year's resolution? Yes, it is almost time for each and every one ...

So without further ado, here are 11 SUPER COOL ACTIVITIES IN CAPE TOWN YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER TRIED BEFORE:
Taste Turkish coffee at Byblos Café
The Rundown: Byblos is a quaint Lebanese-inspired coffee shop at The Palms...

New Year’s Eve Tropical Paradise Party at HQ Restaurant
Get the feeling of a tropical island without leaving the city at HQ’s dreamy New Year’s Eve party. Dress up in flirty floral frocks and flowery shirts...

Book your accommodation with us for the Two Oceans Marathon. We offer 10% discount on all "official event" bookings. Please tell us which event you will be participating in to claim your discount.
Enquire telephonically: 021...

If you’re on the lookout for premium sushi restaurants in Cape Town, then pick up those chopsticks and take a gander at our comprehensive overview of upscale (though not always economical) spots below. From traditional Asia...

Ever looked up at the night sky to see a full moon so close you could almost touch it? Well done, you've spotted a supermoon.
The impressive sight happens when a full moon is closest to Earth. It orbits our planet in...

A guide to Mother City eateries with refreshing ocean vistas and menus to match
Sun-drenched decks, glistening crystal waves and moreish morsels to munch on are as good a summer concoction as any bright-hued cooling cocktail...

PLACES TO CAMP IN CAPE TOWN AND SURROUNDS
AfriCamps Boutique Camping
Set on a beautifully remote spot overlooking a large dam on one of the country’s largest working ostrich farms with the Swartberg ...

7 Great things to do in Cape Town this weekend:
#Pickoftheweek: SA Cocktail Week: 28 October – 6 November
The inaugural SA Cocktail Week is starting in Cape Town this Friday and the city’s trendiest hotspots will tu...

FAMILY FUN AT THE 2016-2017 THE GALILEO OPEN AIR CINEMA
The Galileo is all about providing a special, fun experience for the whole family. During the school holidays, make sure you don’t miss out on the magical movie...

We had a great training day with old and new staff.
Everyone learned more about cooking and kitchen hygiene and safety.
Getting ready for our Summer season!
What have we learned?
Food hygiene is the action taken to ens...

Our pick of seven of the best events and things to do in Cape Town from Friday, 7 to Sunday, 9 October 2016.
#Pickoftheweek: A Steady Rain: 4 – 29 October
Keith Huff’s award-winning Broadway hit A Steady Rain is ta...

The only place to be on Sunday evening…
Great news! The Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts 2016/17 lineup has just been announced, with concerts kicking off in November. As usual, the magnificent gardens provide the...

Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) and South African National Parks (SANParks) are hosting the annual Penguin Festival at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town.
The festival starts with th...

A new era has dawned for The Sunflower Fund, (Bone Marrow donation) bringing with it fresh and exciting new transformations. Along with the new tagline “Hope begins with you”, the organisation has given National Banda...

Celebrate diversity and make the most out of National Braai Day
Heritage Day (24 September), which falls on a Saturday this year, is a South African public holiday that celebrates our rainbow nation’s diversity and that c...

Rugged rocks and sheer cliffs towering more than 200 m above the sea and cutting deep into the ocean provide a spectacular background for the Parks’ rich bio-diversity. Cape Point falls within the southern section of Tabl...

One of the most unique places in the world – a penguin colony in suburban Cape Town! And the best way to see it is from the water. We leave from Simon’s Town Waterfront and paddle past the civilian and Naval Harbour and o...

Southern Africa is often considered the “gemstone capital of the world” as almost half of the world’s gemstones are found in this part of the world. For this reason, experiencing the amazing beauty and variety of gems...

If you like heights, this mountain-hugging path is for you.....
If hanging off the side of a mountain is your idea of fun, then we suggest China’s latest tourist attraction. A 328-foot-long glass walkway—fittingly ca...

Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula have two glittering coastlines with a beach to suit every mood and moment. Whether you’re after buzzing beach side bars, secluded coves, safe swimming beaches or a romantic spot for a sunse...

Cape Point Nature Reserve and the Cape of Good Hope with its wildlife, fynbos, hiking trails, lighthouses and shipwrecks, along with the African Penguins at Boulders and various ocean activities are some of the things to do w...

Women’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, making it the perfect day to treat yourself or that unique lady in your life with our selection of excellent specials and events. This day commemorates ladies who fought for their r...

World of Birds is the largest bird park in Africa and one of the few large bird parks in the World. Over 3 000 birds (and small animals) of 400 different species are uniquely presented in more than 100 spacious landscaped wa...

Jubilee Square in 1880, when it was still known as Market Square. (It was the market where farmers in the area came to sell their produce.)
A view of Jubilee Square and Simon's Town from the sea, circa 1880. William Ande...

Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July, 2009 via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly.
It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier...

“Simonites” who live in this unique and attractive town will affirm that the best times of the year in Simon’s Town are the early and late winter months. These are the months when the rest of the Cape Peninsula is cold,...

Simons Town offers the best holiday accommodation in Cape Town, South Africa, including Self Catering, B&B's, and Hotels, Camping and Backpackers. Simon's Town has stunning views in the most beautiful environment of the...

School’s out: keep your kids occupied during the winter holidays with great activities and events in and around the Mother City!
Kids from around the Western Cape stow away their pens, pencils, text and workbooks for three...

A trip to the Mother City will not be complete without a visit to each Cape Town Big 7 attractions namely:
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway,Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Robben Island Museum - An agency of ...

Join us for lunch in our restaurant or for a picnic on our lawns.
Contact 0217890900 or bookings@cape-point.com
Only 15km from Mariner Guesthouse!
Visit their website for more information:
http://cpv.co.za/
...

Our pick of seven of the best events and things to do in Cape Town from Friday, 27 May to Sunday, 29 May 2016.
Pick any weekend of the year in Cape Town and you’re bound to find a host of events planned throughout our hi...

The Strand beachfront on a flat calm day. Large shoals of spawning fish were everywhere and there were also large patches of red tide about.
Big shoals of fish just behind the backline!
Theewaterskloof D...

We had a combined celebration last week: a fantastic "Peak Season" now at its end and 2 staff members' birthdays. So, we took a few hours off to "play tourist" in our own town. Lunch at Seaforth Beach Restaurant, ice cream en...

3-for-1 Kids' Special
Our 3-for-1 Kids’ Special means two kids (under 18) can ride for free when you buy one adult one-day bus ticket or Harbour Cruise ticket.
The special runs from 1 May to 9 October 2016 a...

About Us

The History of Mariner Guesthouse

The name “Mariner” comes from the maritime background of co-owner, Liesel Coetzer’s husband being a navigational Master Mariner at sea, as well as the rich maritime history of Simon’s Town. The town was named after Simon van der Stel, the Dutch governor of the Cape Colony between 1677 and 1699, who surveyed the bay east of Cape Town and earmarked it as a safe winter harbour. Today Simon’s Town is home to the South African Navy and the False Bay Yacht Club, conveniently situated adjacent to the Simon’s Town Waterfront Centre in the town. Boat charters and sea kayaking are some of the many activities offered from the centre and professionally managed deep sea fishing, shark diving and whale watching charters are available here.

Owners of Mariner Guesthouse, Lorenda and Gerdie Landman, are farmers in the Eastern Cape, with daughter, Liesel, performing the function of General Manager of the business, which offers the flexibility she needs to be a mom to 3 young daughters! The dynamic “Mariner Team” further consists of Manager, Daleen Theron, and Assistants, Nandi Radebe and Mandy Bungu. Together they ensure that guests are always treated to style, comfort and friendly hospitality!

From the beginning, it was important to the owners that the guest house had to be centrally located and walking distance to restaurants and beaches, while still offering panoramic sea views across False Bay. In the end, an old house on the mountainside was demolished to purpose build the architecturally designed Mariner Guesthouse in 2009, with the aim of being eco-friendly and offering high quality facilities to receive a 4-Star grading. The 8 bedroom guest house now offers value, luxury accommodation to leisure and business travelers. Guests staying in Simon’s Town, normally seek to experience nature and adventure activities, while still being within easy driving distance of the city of Cape Town.

Today, the owners of Mariner Guesthouse are proud of what the business has become. Its involvement in various Social Responsibility projects, a focus on Staff Development and having received awards such as Top Accommodation in the South Peninsula by Travel Ground and a Certificate of Excellence and Winner on Trip Advisor – as rated by its satisfied guests, are all aspects that contribute to the success of the business.

“We believe that our owner-involvement in the day-to-day operations, along with our competent and passionate staff members, make a big difference in ensuring that our guests are happy and have an unforgettable stay at Mariner Guesthouse every time!”, says Liesel Coetzer. Make sure to book your accommodation at Mariner Guesthouse next time you visit the Cape Peninsula, and enjoy everything the beautiful Simon’s Town has to offer.

Winter Special

20% Discount to Spice up your Winter

A warm welcome awaits with our complimentary home-made Hot Chocolate – wonderful for a fire-side winter-warmer! 20% discount on all bookings for 2 adults sharing a room, minimum 2 nights’ stay. Rates from R 590 per person per night, breakfast included. Valid for bookings in May until August ’17

“We love the Mariner Guesthouse”

It is a lovely and relaxed guesthouse with everything you need and more. Perfect to just relax with beautiful views and friendly owners and staff. We will definitely recommend this guesthouse to our friends and family and also will go back again.